1987 Memories

In 1987 our family drove across the continent to Kelowna - where we met up with my brother's family and spent a few days all together with my parents.

Here are some of the pictures taken at that time. 

The kids were rambunctious in those years! In the second picture, I seem to be forcing my older son to look at the camera. I have no recollection why! His cousin, my brother's younger son, is turning around to see what's happening.

My favourite photo is the top one - my father, walking down Bernard Avenue with his 5 grandkids.

Were we heading to the park to play frisbee?

Fun times for all!

Media Transfer

When my children were young, my parents bought a video recorder... Before long they gave it to us, so that we could send them pictures of their growing grandkids...

They were happy when a VHS tape replaced my weekly letter to them.

All these years later, I have LOTS of VHS tapes I'd like to digitize, so that my kids could see themselves in action in their younger years. (And so that my grandkids can see their dad when he was a toddler.) But how? And when?!

I recently discovered that my son's public library has a digital transfer lab... 

So we headed over to check it out.

Their "tech" person was very helpful...

If I figure out how to use it, I may keep busy transferring many childhood years on VHS tape to more accessible digital format.

Recently I took the first step: I copied one VHS tape onto one DVD. It took over two hours as I watched it copy. (The next step is to transfer the video from DVD to USB... That may go faster. - I hope!) 

Multiply this by a dozen more VHS home videos, possibly two hours each... It will take a while. 

My new adventure in photography - learning to digitally transfer these videos - as I revisit family history!!

Baseball Boys

Summer is the season of baseball...

It's always fun to watch the next generation develop their skills... and to help them learn.

Both Grandpa and Grandma hit a ball or two - so that the outfield could practice! Fun - and good exercise - for everyone!

Titans Baseball Game

I rarely watch sports... (unless I know someone who is playing.)

BUT recently our family attended a local baseball game - the Ottawa Titans were playing.

I joined in the fun.

Everyone had a good time.

MY favorite part was watching the kids run the bases after the game was over. All were invited to get a feel for what it's like at field level. 

Lots of people joined in!

Fun - watching families having fun together!

Early July Blooming!

We've had a lot of rain - and hot weather...

(Not my favourite weather for outdoor gardening...)

So - though I've been neglecting the weeds in my flower beds, the flowers continue to reward me by blooming!

The big question in my mind is...

So many flowers are blooming now.... 

Will there be any perennials left to bloom in August?

"Cat Days" of Summer

There are the "dog days" of summer - but these pictures tell stories of "cat days"...

We've spent time visiting cats...

And cat 🐈‍⬛ owners.

The cats seem to enjoy it...

(Even in the heat, in spite of the fur!)

Nice to have "quality cat time"!

🇨🇦 Canada Day 🍁

Happy Canada Day!

Canada Day is always a time for me to reflect on the great blessing it is to live in Canada... with its political freedom and its many other benefits, like free healthcare for all.

A year ago, we were reminded of how wonderful it is to live in a country where all residents have access to free healthcare after our daughter-in-law suddenly needed heart surgery - and had it, free of charge, in a world-class hospital at the Ottawa Heart Institute.

Terry remembers how, in his childhood, when his mother developed lung cancer - in the days before Canadians had free healthcare - her three-year medical ordeal totally depleted the family's finances, leaving them bankrupt.

So thankful to live in this beautiful, peaceful land... where medical needs are provided, free of charge, to Canadians.